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Finding an Entrepreneurial Valentine

webwallflower — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:35:54 +0000

(Please note, this was written for V-Day LAST year on an old blog. But I am trying to collect all my writings in one place.)

I’ve talked about how to get and prepare for your first Investor Meeting. With Valentine’s Day coming up, I figured some tips on getting and preparing for a first romantic date would be more helpful for the season. (This post will be very hetero-normative, and aimed primarily at geeky/start-up men. Here are some neat articles for those this will annoy, like it normally would me.)

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Through my attendance at SF Beta, I’ve come to notice that there are a lot of single, intelligent, and interested tech boys out there, as well as women who are interested in finding them (yes men, they do exist). Yet somehow, the meeting happens, and its all down hill from there…

So for the start-up men out there that I have come to know and love, here is some advice for chatting up that potential Valentine:

THE APPROACH:

Approach. Before working on how to approach, you must first start the approach. If you don’t have the confidence to come to me, I’m not going to waste my time going to you. Yes, I noticed you staring at me from the door; I’m just choosing to ignore you till you get some balls.
Have confidence, not ego. Approach with a smile, head held high, and a willing hand shake. But do not approach with all of your successes and greatness on your lips.

THE CONVERSATION:

Have a conversation ready. Do not come up to me, introduce yourself, and then expect me to fall head over heels that instant. Be ready to talk and not stand with an awkward grin.
A conversation takes two. Do not come up to me and leap into your newest start-up idea, a great technology you developed, or the tech gossip of the minute. If my responses are fewer than 4 words, I either don’t care or you aren’t letting me speak. I might as well just read your blog and leave you talking to the wall.
Have a question ready. This falls in line with #1 and 2. (“How are you?” doesn’t count). We have Facebook now; do some stalking, and at least pretend you have an interest in my life and want to engage in more than physical intercourse with me.
Don’t push too hard. Make me want more. If you hang around me for more than 20 minutes at a mixer, our conversation better be damned good. Otherwise, end it BEFORE it winds down and gets dull. “Oh, I’m sorry. My friend just got here. Let’s catch up later (hand me your card).” If, up until this point, things were going well, I will get back to you.
A Card is not a Call To Action. I take back the “(hand me your card)”, above. Think back to design school: have a Call to Action. As you are leaving, let me know “It’s been great talking to you. I’d love to catch up more later, ideally somewhere quieter. Do you have a card? Mind I ping/call you soon?” If she says no, give her yours, but make it clear you are honestly interested in social, not business.

FOLLOW-UP

Email first. Some girls will disagree with me here, but I hate when a guy calls me out of the blue. I may not remember who you are, where I know you, or why you are calling; and your phone call just makes it uncomfortable. I prefer getting an email or gchat first, and then taking it to the phone.
A date is NOT a business meeting. Don’t trick me; be clear so I know what I am getting into. I HATE when men ask if we can get dinner to discuss business. Occasionally, people DO want to meet with me to talk business (surprise, surprise). It’s one thing to say “I’d like to take you out to dinner. I’m interested in learning more about what you do.” – That’s clearly a pick-up, thank you. It’s another to say “I’d love to chat with you about a business venture I have. Free for dinner next week?” – Ambiguity sucks.
Dinner is a date. Lunch is a meeting*. Weekends are always dates. This is good to know whenever you are asking to take someone out. Be honest about what you want and pick an appropriate time. (*If you have made it clear this is NOT a meeting, than know that Lunch is casual)
Don’t get let down. You will get rejected, politely turned down, snubbed, ignored, etc. But if you stay positive, hopeful, and strong while you are single, you will get dates as well. The worst thing is the smell of desperation, so just relax and have a good time.

Getting The First Investor Meeting

webwallflower — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:40:28 +0000

(Another old post – trying to get all my writings in one place.)

So we are thinking of raising a round of angel investment in the next few months. While we’ve been reading up on Cap Tables, Executive Summaries, Slide Decks, and things needed for official suit and tie meetings, we aren’t sure how to get that first cup of coffee with potential investors. Here’s some great advice our adviser told me:

You Are The Star:
Think of yourself as a talented high school quarterback. Maybe you aren’t the best of your state, per say, but you are clearly ahead in your team and ready to try for the big leagues. Before you start applying to colleges and selling yourself to recruiters, you first visit the schools you are interested in and see if they would be a good fit for you. You should start the same way with investors: they should want YOU by the time this phrase is done, not vice versa.

Pick your schools: The Ideal, The Acceptable, and the Fallback
Ask around and get a long list of investors (angel or otherwise.): at least 15, but 20+ would be safe. Research ALL of them: get an idea of what sort of companies they invest in and if they appear, on the surface at least, to be a good fit for your company or idea. Categorize them as Poor Fits, Decent, and Ideal. Your first coffee meetings should be with the investors you know you don’t want. This is just to get you practice, and to spread the word in the investor world about you. Don’t meet with your top choice investors until you really feel ready and have had at least 5-10 practice rounds.

Introduce Yourself in a Neutral Environment
Next, see if you can find someone in your contacts who can get you a personal introduction to them. If not, don’t be afraid to blind email them. Let them know you are working on a new idea, have XX amount of experience, and want to ask them about the investment industry, their experience, etc. Be sure you do NOT meet them in their office. This sets a precedent for professional attitudes, poker faces, and non-disclosure crap. Buy them a coffee, be laid back and conversational, be polite but not reverent.

Interview Them
At this meeting, ask them about their interests, what they are looking for, how involved they like to be with their companies, how much money they have invested in the past, and, if they can share it, what sort of success their portfolio companies have encountered. If they are at ALL interested in investing in new companies, they will inevitably ask what you are working on. Here you should have one sentence that sums up everything concisely, but leaves them wanting to know more. If it feels right, you can follow this up with a brief description, under 2 minutes. If they dont ask about your company, they probably aren’t worth your time.

A Subtle Sale
Inevitably they will then ask, “Well, when are you looking to raise money?” Your answer should be about 2-3 months further out than you truly think, so you don’t sound desperate or needy (IOW: “Oh, in 4 – 6 months). They will then ask “Well, how long could you go without funds?” You respond, “Well, money isn’t really an issue. My (last company, parents, relatives, loans) are supporting me for a fair amount of time.” They look surprised, “Well then, why are you interested in raising money?” You calmly retort, “Well, I don’t want people to look at this as just some pet project of mine. I want it to be legitimized, able to stand on its own to feet. We are working with (list companies they may have missed out on funding) already, and I know we can get even stronger people with the right funds.” This keeps you from sounding like you are begging for money, but also lets them know specifically how an increase in funds would help you.

Network
As you wrap up, be sure to ask if they can introduce you to anyone they think would be interested in the idea. This not only lets them know that you are talking to other investors and people, but also gets you some great new contacts, and lets them feel especially helpful and more invested in the idea.

Make sure you are aware that, from these meetings to the moment you receive the cash can take anywhere from 3-6 months (and that is, of course, assuming you raise funds in this economy.) It certainly isn’t impossible, but it’s pretty damn hard.

Sponsoring an Event – Lesson 1

webwallflower — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:38:10 +0000

I am often surprised at just how rarely I am asked “When should we sponsor an event? Why? and How?” These all seem like pretty pertinent questions to me, especially when you’re considering investing anywhere from $1,000 – $50,000 at an event. With advertising, social media, and even customer engagement getting their ROI measured under a microscope, shouldn’t these issues at least be addressed?

And I’ll be blunt. By not asking them, you are setting yourself up to lose money with almost any sponsorship or event support you do. Hell, you should be asking them even as an attendee: “When should I attend an event? Why? How?” (I do address this somewhat in my post “4 Reasons to Pay to Network“) You need to know how to best prepare, what to invest, and what type of response to expect from attendees (scrutiny, curiosity, a level 1 understanding of your company, or a level 10? etc.)

So despite not being asked these questions enough by sponsors, I’ve decided to answer them nevertheless:

When Should We Sponsor an Event?

Well, you need spare capital to make the initial investment. We’re talking at least $5k to do this right (see the How Section to see why $5k+). You also need someone on staff who can be paid to research events for a good month or so (this means read about them, attend them, and ask the community about them). Especially if you want to see measurable ROI, you need to do this right. (Specifically, you are researching attendees #s and breakdown, conference topics, other sponsors, speaking possibilities, and package levels.)

You also need to have a highly polished product, a quick and well developed pitch for it, and a clear understanding of the specific audience you want to reach (and no, this is not everyone on the internet. This is STILL a terrible answer.)

Finally, you need to know your goals for the event: specifically, why is physical outreach the next best step?

Why Should I Sponsor an Event?

Done right, sponsoring events leads to great brand awareness, and loyal customer acquisition. Done wrong, it is a waste of money. I aim to do a series of posts teaching you how to do it right.

Events take your company offline and put a face to the organization. They let potential clients and employees speak directly to the team, get questions answered, and learn first hand about the product. Continued event sponsorships in one targeted community (founders, musicians, animators, developers, etc.) gets you branded as an expert to the leaders in that community, who will then pass the word on about you to others. This is a form of outreach you can never accomplish with any print or CPM ad. A well targeted event (and well connected organizer/producer) can also give you immediate introductions to the decision makers at potential clients, skipping the entire chain of communication that may otherwise have taken weeks.

Sponsorships, esp. those focusing around major product launches, can also bring in significantly more press than a Press Release or blog post ever will. Journalists are generally more inclined to print a story about a release if they get an interview with the founder, great action photos, and a personal introduction to the product: all things that are most efficiently found at a conference. Launching a product at a conference also gives you an amazing audience to test it on, before the wide world gets to attack it. These people are generally experienced and well-informed in the community, and can give constructive feedback.

How should I sponsor an event?

First off, you need to have done the research mentioned above, and know this is an audience you want to reach. You want to know the attendees are people you want to talk with, or who you want to reach, either as potential employees, clients, or evangelists and community leaders. You want to know if it will be a large crowd (usually less targeted and less engagement, but more people to talk with) or small crowd (better targeted and higher engagement, but fewer potential contacts). You want to know if the package includes the type of engagement you want:

BRANDING: If you are looking to get brand awareness within a community, you want to find a series of events that targets that community and have a small sponsorship of ALL of them. This means $1k – $2k for logo coverage and a table at the event. You need to be in people’s heads; they need to see you at every event they go to. The first event, people won’t know who you are and won’t care. But by the 3rd or 4th, they’ll be so curious they HAVE to ask. GoGrid, yourVersion, and Sun StartupEssentials are all great at doing this. For brand awareness, it is more important that you spread a bit of wealth widely, than power house one event. You may acquire fewer customers at each event, but you’ll get into people’s brains for the long haul, and they’ll think of you when they need something. This is also a great thing to do when you are rebranding yourself (when ServePat became more heavily GoGrid, I think their continued community outreach really helped cement the change to their audience.)

CUSTOMERS ACQUISITION: If you are looking to get customers or clients, you’ll want to spend more time researching events and finding the best 1 – 3 for you to appear at, and then asking if they have a demo room or on stage slots available for sponsors. Logo coverage is minimally important here – you want a place to meet people and show off your stuff. You want to become a clear expert in the area.

If they have a demo spot available in a room, then make sure you come prepared for it. Your area should be flashy – come with tshirts, stickers water bottles, and general cool schwag to give away. Have something out along with your computer: I’ve seen things like real dogs, refrigerator doors, giant server boxes, velvet curtains, and so much more. This makes me immediately more inclined to engage with you than just the dude with a computer screen and some fliers. It helps if atleast one person at the table also appears young, attractive, and approachable (so no booth babes, please, just someone polite and presentable). It is not, in a room, your pitch that brings people to you – it is your table and signage and schwag.

If it is a slot on stage, it is the message that rings out to the crowd. Your pitch needs to be short and sweet, it needs to tell people what you do in under 20 seconds, or at least make some amazing claim that they just have to hear more. It needs to be energized, immediately identify audience, problem, and solution. And the examples you give MUST be relevant to the crowd.

Another great thing for customer acquisition is to host a workshop. This gets you in front of a smaller but more interested and engaged group. Now, if you just stand up and rave about your product, I promise you will get no clients. None. Zero. You need to design, ideally with the event organizer, a workshop targeted to their audience. This warrants an entire blog post, but generally keep in mind that you want a few presenters, you want to talk about a problem and solution, not just pitch, and you want to have a lot of Q&A with the audience – they know best what they want to hear.

NOTE ON SPEAKING: If, as a sponsor, you are invited to participate on a panel or give a presentation on stage, do NOT stand up and talk about your product, demo your website, or give a sales pitch. As I noted in the workshop section, this will not generate any sales or goodwill in the community. This will generate yawns, walkouts, discontent, and being blacklisted from the next event. Chat about the problem your company addresses, why it is a problem, tips for the audience on how to avoid it or solve it themselves, free tools at their disposal, and then mention that if they want a faster, more efficient solution, they can reach out to you guys. For example, I write this blog, send people event advice regularly, and still get asked to produce the event – most frequently from the very people to whom I sent free advice and tools.

My Favorite Events for 11/16 – 11/22

webwallflower — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:36:06 +0000

So I’m a bit biased this week, as I am one of the hosts of Tuesday’s SF MusicTech Mixer – I hope you can swing down to Roe and check it out. Otherwise, it is a CRAZY busy week – here are my plans (and for once I actually plan to be at all of them). Hope you can join me at one!

Monday 11/16

Today is the peak of the Leonid Meteor Shower, so screw any events going on tonight and head to the hills to see this!

Tuesday 11/17

SF MusicTech Mixer
6:00 – 9:00pm
Roe (651 Howard Street)
http://sfmtsmixer.eventbrite.com

Wednesday 11/18
(This is a day of 3 2 events I would like to attend. This is my order of priority:)

SF NewTech
5:30 – 11:30
Mighty Bar (119 Utah St.)
http://sfnewtech.com

Social Media Club
6:00 – 8:00pm
Citizen Space
http://sfsvnov09.eventbrite.com

Thursday 11/19

Tech The Halls
7:00 – 9:00pm
Varnish
http://www.techthehalls.eventbrite.com

Friday 11/20

Startup Crawl
5:30 – 11:00pm
Various Locations
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169729122953&index=1
Saturday/Sunday
(This totally depends where you are. But I recommend both)

Startup Sandbox (hosted by Women 2.o)
Friday – Sunday; 6:00pm – 9:00pm; then all day Sat and Sun
Microsoft (835 Market Street (Westfield Center) Suite #700)
http://www.women2.org/startup-sandbox/
(postponed to Feb 5th – 7th)

Startup Weekend
Friday – Sunday; 6:00pm – 9:00pm; then all day Sat and Sun
Hacker Dojo
http://bayarea.startupweekend.org/

November Bay Area Tech Events

webwallflower — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:04:36 +0000

TOP UPCOMING BAY AREA TECH EVENTS
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EVENT DISCOUNTS
SAN FRANCISCO EVENTS
BAY AREA EVENTS

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EVENT DISCOUNTS:

40% off – NextGen Conference
Nov 14th, All Day NextGen is a one-day conference at Stanford University in the heart of Silicon Valley. NextGen’s mission is to help you succeed, by providing lectures, panels and networking opportunities on areas that are vital in building and maintaining your business. Some of the topics will include how to pitch (what you need to present in your deck and how to be prepared) and the importance of asking for help / mentorship, with plenty more coming! Check out http://www.nextgenconf.com/ and use code “cass123″ when registering for your discount!

30% off – The Academy Awards of Cleantech
Nov 17th, 8:00a – 7:00p
The culmination of the world’s largest clean technology business competition is our annual Awards Gala designed to showcase the boldest cleantech ideas, the most ambitious entrepreneurs and the brightest, most engaged investors, venture capitalists and prospective technology customers. This year’s Gala will be our most spectacular event to date. Register for your 30% with the code “BetaGala” at http://www.cleantechopen.com/app.cgi/events/view/84

15% off – SF MusicTech Summit
Dec 7th, 2009
Hotel Kabuki
The SF MusicTech Summit will bring together over 600 visionaries in the music/technology space, along with the best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, journalists, musicians and organizations who work with them at the convergence of culture and commerce. We meet to discuss the evolving music/business/technology ecosystem in a proactive, conducive to deal-making environment. For more information on our speakers and agenda, check out http://sfmusictech.com or to register with your exclusive WebWallflower 15% discount, head to http://sfmts5.eventbrite.com/?discount=WebWallflower

200 Euro off – LeWeb
Dec 9th – 10th
Paris, France
Join 1800 participants from 30 countries at this, the #1 European internet event. LeWeb brings together the best and the brightest people of the web industry from attendees to speakers. For more information and to get your discount ticket, visit http://www.amiando.com/leweb. html?discountCode=Leweb09

SAN FRANCISCO EVENTS

Web Wine & Wisdom – Innovative Telecommunications
Nov. 10th, 6:30pm
PariSoma Coworking Space
Enjoy a variety of tasty French Wines while getting the latest updates and news from two sought after start-ups from the Silicon Valley Twillio and Digitrad. Sip on two delicious wines from the western coast of France and try some french artisan cheeses as well!? Tickets are available at http://www.faccsf.com/Events/WWWoctober09.htm BuzzWorthy Party Nov 10th, 6:30 – 9:00p Thirsty Bear Join Attack! Marketing and Nimbuzz for FREE Drinks, Exclusive Nimbuzz Betas, and Sumo Training! This event is for Advertising, Marketing, PR professionals & mobile fans and mobile developers Sponsored by GoMo News, get exclusive access to beta releases from Nimbuzz, a squeezy sumo or a cool t-shirt from Attack! Marketing. Mingle with the influencers from the mobile and guerrilla marketing industries, connect with the founders. Be sure RSVP for to get free drinks and schwag.

NFT 2010 iPhone App Launch Party
Nov 11th, 6:00 – 9:00p
Double Dutch
Not For Tourists (NFT), publisher of the little black city survival guides, is celebrating the release of the 2010 Not For Tourists Guide to San Francisco and launch of new iPhone app, with a party at Double Dutch, in the Mission. First 100 people get free copy of 2010 Not For Tourists SF edition. Free beer for all from 6pm-7pm. For more information, check out their Facebook Page.

NewTeeVee Live: Television Reinvented
Nov 12th, All Day
Come hear what’s on the minds of those leading the changes in television. The last year has seen an explosion in consumers watching TV online. To meet the demand, the media industry is scaling its delivery and infrastructure technologies and rethinking its content programming strategies. NewTeeVee Live is a timely and informative forum, convening some of the most powerful people leading the change. To make your play, you need to be informed. NewTeeVee Live is in its third year, and we have sold out our previous two editions. This year, we will focus on fireside conversations with the big leaders of change, to bring out the most salient thoughts from them. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with and learn from the architects of the new television industry. Register here.

GiveWork Charity Gala
Nov 12th, 7:30pm
University Club
Samasource will host the first annual GiveWork Charity Gala at the University Club of San Francisco, bringing together writers, luminaries, and some of the most influential female entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. The event will feature a live auction, with items for bid including a conversation with Nobel Prize laureates George Akerlof and Myron Scholes, a productivity make-over with “The 4-Hour Workweek” author Tim Ferriss, and a date with Bollywood actress Vida Samadzai (Miss Afghanistan 2003). Information at www.samasource.org/gala

Fearless Women Entrepreneurs
Nov 12th, 6:30 – 8:30pm
Mechanics Institute
Join us for an informative, inspiring and fun evening interacting with a panel of fearless women entrepreneurs who have stepped out on their own. They’ll share their ideas, their experiences and what it took for them to make the leap. You’ll walk away with lots of information, connections and a list full of action items to start your own journey. More information at http://futurewomenleaders.net

SF MusicTech Mixer
Nov 17th, 6:00 – 9:30p
Roe Nightclub
Want to connect informally with the local music/technology community? Come down to Roe on November 17th from 6pm-9 pm for drinks and networking with the leading players in the music and technology industry. A ticket to the SF MusicTech Summit will get you in for free, pre-registration for the party is only $10, and tickets, if available, will be more expensive at the door. Check out http://sfmtsmixer.eventbrite. com for more information and to reserve your spot today.

TEDxSF: Creating
Nov. 17th
Cal Academy of Science
TEDxSF seeks to develop and leverage the TED experience at a regional level, bringing together innovators and inspirational speakers in the San Francisco Bay Area. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. Apply for the group at http://www.tedxsf.org/index.html

DreamForce: Global Gathering
Nov 17th – 20th
Moscone Center
It’s time to master the cloud. It’s time to improve your sales. Sharpen your marketing. Collaborate with your teams and communities. It’s time to delight your customers with great service. Lay the foundation for the changes to come. It’s time for the cloud. And most importantly, it’s time to move. At salesforce.com’s seventh annual user and developer conference, you’ll join 12,000 customers, partners, and employees for four days focused on your success: Maximize your investment in salesforce.com and learn from the best how to use the cloud to stay ahead of the competition. Information at http://www.salesforce.com/dreamforce/DF09/site/

SF NewTech
Nov 18th, 5:30 – 11:00p
Mighty Bar
San Francisco’s longest running regular tech event and community group. At this monthly meetup, see demos from LunchForGood, ItiBiti, Webvanta, ReFrameIt, NationalBLS, and Smedule. Registration at http://nov18sfnewtech-com.eventbrite.com/

Social Media Club
Nov 18th, 6:00 – 8:00p
Citizen Space
Social Media Club San Francisco / Silicon Valley brings together musicians and their fans to discuss music our collective love of music and the new ways the artists and their supporters are connecting at our November meetup. We have a panel that includes musicians who are using social media to build their fan base as well as communicate with them, raving fans as well as social media professionals. We’re looking for an audience that is ready to discuss the music they make – or that moves them – and how social media has impacted their interaction. Register at http://sfsvnov09.eventbrite.com

Digital SOMA
Nov 18th, 6:00 – 8:00pm
John Collins
Digital SOMA creates a hub where the people creating and ushering in the new digital age can come together. On November 18th, we’ll be gathering at John Colins lounge If you’re one of the following people, join us and meet the best in the interactive business: Designers, Agency Account Executives, Brand Managers, Art Directors, Marketing Managers, Interactive Experience Developers, Copywriters, CXOs. Information at their Facebook Page.

WiredRE : Cloud Vs. Colocation Vs. Data Center Real Estate
Nov 18th &19th 2pm – 6:30pm
At this panel, you will learn from and interact with some of the most successful cloud, colocation and data center executives sharing their insights, demos, and best practices for achieving reliable and low-cost IT infrastructure. They will also share their case studies, partnership models, technologies, risk management strategies, and more. These sessions will address comparing and applying container, cloud, colo, and data center solutions; with whom and in which markets should one deploy new infrastructure; planning for low TCO; staging a large data center commitment; and assessing sustainability and carbon risk. More info at WiredRE.com.

Tech the Halls: Technologizer Holiday Bash
Nov 19th, 7:00 – 9:00pm
Varnish
It’s time to celebrate the holidays and check out the latest in consumer tech gear before we head into the new year and head off to CES. Technologizer invites you to its Tech The Halls Holiday Bash. Join us for good company, delightful conversation, and great food and drink at Varnish Art Gallery, a cool venue conveniently located in San Francisco’s SOMA neighborhood. Information and details at http://www.techthehalls.eventbrite.com

Lean Startup Circle: November
Nov 19th, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Mission Bay Conference Center
Learn Customer Development straight from the source. Steve Blank, creator of the Customer Development process, author of The Four Steps to the Epiphany and mentor to Lean Startup guru Eric Ries, will be speaking at the November Lean Startup Circle meetup. Information can be found at http://www.meetup.com/Lean- Startup-Circle/

Women 2.0 Startup Sandbox
Nov 20th – 22nd
Microsoft at Westfield Mall
In just a whirlwind of 56 hrs, meet like-minded entrepreneurs (or maybe you just have an idea in your head), engineers and dreamers and work on any of the following: Make a working prototype; Create an investor presentation; Come with your company and get feedback; Come with an idea to make a mock up; Practice and learn new skills. Information and registration at http://www.women2. org/startup-sandbox/

SuperNova 2009
Dec 1st, 2009
Mission Bay Conference Center
Supernova is an annual technology conference organized by Kevin Werbach, in partnership with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Focused on the business dynamics of the networked world, Supernova brings together CEOs and bloggers, entrepreneurs and academics, practitioners and visionaries, policy experts and industry thought leaders to share insights and build relationships. Information at http://www.supernovahub.com

Benefit Tech and Entrepreneurship in Rwanda
Wednesday, Dec 2nd
Haines Art Gallery
Please join Mission Schools International (MSI) at San Francisco’s Haines Art Gallery for an evening of cocktails, merriment, and mingling in support of an extraordinary new education model in Rwanda. MSI will offer a holistic program focused on science, technology, and entrepreneurship which will help create a dynamic and self-sustaining Rwandan economy. MSI is assisting the Rwandan government to create Africa’s first-ever secondary school national curriculum in entrepreneurship. After being inspired you will have the opportunity to donate to this ground-breaking cause. Please RSVP at http://www.pingg.com/rsvp/ 7tyjk4pe8sqjbj4bp

Silicon Valley Rocks!
Dec 9th, 2009
The Great American Music Hall
Tech professionals by day, rockers by night – on December 9 at the Great American Music Hall, they’ll pick up their instruments and venture onto the big stage to let their alter egos shine… for a good cause and the love of music. Silicon Valley Rocks 2009 will bring together the Valley’s tech community – from VCs and entrepreneurs to bloggers and software developers – to raise money for Music in Schools Today (MuST), a Bay Area non-profit that seeks to rescue music programs from budget cuts. The second annual showcase will once again feature Silicon Valley bands and original rockers who will entertain and amuse your entire social graph. Information at http://svrocks.com/

BAY AREA EVENTS

SVASE Breakfast with Carol Sands
Nov 12th, 8:00a – 9:30a
Palo Alto, CA
The SVASE VC Breakfast Club provides a terrific opportunity for entrepreneurs to meet with VCs in a relaxed, informal setting to build relationships and get valuable feedback on their startup idea. Participating entrepreneurs deliver an extended elevator pitch for 8 – 10 minutes, and the guest VC provides immediate feedback, enabling fast and effective mentoring and relationship development. Info at http://www.svase.org/?q=node/3345

Jobnob Ivy Plus Happy Hour
Nov 12th, 4:30 – 7:30pm
Illusions Supper Club, Palo Alto
Come “Jobnob” with cool new start ups and talented Ivy Plus job seekers at this informal networking happy hour where you can find startup jobs. Be flexible on compensation- bootstrapped startups may be offering alternative compensation: reduced rates, equity, internships, part time, etc. Get in on the ground floor with these great startups! Register at: http://www.jobnob.com/happy- hour/IvyPlus-nov-12-2009

SD Forum: Google, Kosmix and the Exploration of the Deep Web
Nov 12th, 6:30 – 9:30p
Palo Alto, CA
Join Dr. Alon Halevy of Google Labs and Kosmix Co-Founder Dr. Anand Rajaraman as they explore the mysteries of the Deep Web, the portion of the Internet not accessible to traditional search engines. Social networks, media-sharing sites for photos and videos, and all kinds of scientific databases lurk inside the Deep Web. How will the Deep Web change the business of Search, and what should you should expect as the Deep Web becomes more accessible?

SmartGrid: Vision, Opportunity, Effectiveness
Nov 13th, 12:00n – 7:00p
Menlo Park, CA
This is the fourth in a continuing series of focused conferences highlighting clean technology solutions to address the planet’s multifaceted energy challenges. This fourth installment is made possible through the Stanford University Energy Crossroads. Panelists from organizations with key responsibility over various aspects of the electricity market will describe the system into which Smart Grid technology must fit and how that system is changing. More information can be found at http://cleantech.stanford.edu/bscc4/

40% off – NextGen Conference
Nov 14th, All Day
NextGen is a one-day conference at Stanford University in the heart of Silicon Valley. NextGen’s mission is to help you succeed, by providing lectures, panels and networking opportunities on areas that are vital in building and maintaining your business. Some of the topics will include how to pitch (what you need to present in your deck and how to be prepared) and the importance of asking for help / mentorship, with plenty more coming! Check out http://www.nextgenconf.com/ and use code “cass123″ when registering for your discount!

GreenBeat 2009
Nov 18th & 19th
San Mateo, CA
VentureBeat’s seminal conference on the Smart Grid, GreenBeat 2009 will bring together leading entrepreneurs, investors, utilities, technology executives, and policymakers to accelerate the development of a leaner, more efficient electrical grid. Keynote speakers include Al Gore (former Vice President and Nobel Prize Winner), John Doerr (KPCB), Eric Schmidt (Google), and Laura Ipsen (Cisco). Information at http://www.greenbeat2009.com

SVASE Breakfast with Neal Hansch
Nov 19th, 8:00a – 9:30a
Palo Alto, CA
The SVASE VC Breakfast Club provides a terrific opportunity for entrepreneurs to meet with VCs in a relaxed, informal setting to build relationships and get valuable feedback on their startup idea. Participating entrepreneurs deliver an extended elevator pitch for 8 – 10 minutes, and the guest VC provides immediate feedback, enabling fast and effective mentoring and relationship development. Info at http://www.svase.org/?q=node/3472

WebPlay Conference
Nov 19th, 8:00a – 7:00p
Plug and Play Tech Center
WebPlay Conference is an annual showcase of industry leaders, market trends, innovation, and the people are changing the world. There will be an accumulation of panels, startup demo, and keynote speeches. Information and a full agenda is up at http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/webplay/index.php

Under The Radar: Mobile Conference
Nov 19th, 8:00a – 6:00p
Mountain View, CA
Under the Radar is a must-attend event for dealmakers from global carriers, brands, media companies, and handset manufacturers responsible for helping their companies leverage new mobile technology and innovation in the fast-evolving digital landscape. Information and registration at http://www.undertheradarblog.com/

WorkIt Annual SV Meetup
Nov 19th, 6:00 – 9:00p
Santa Clara, CA
In its 6th year, WorkIt.com’s Silicon Valley Mixer celebrates the people involved in Silicon Valley startups – the ones who are willing to take these risks in pursuit of their goals to launch and grow a thriving company – all while keeping our region on the cutting edge of technology and innovation. The evening will offer opportunities to expand your network and help you reach your business goals. Every year, this event has 250+ in attendance! Information at http://www.workit.com/svmixer

Girls in Tech: Resume Workshop
Nov 19th, 7:00 – 9:00p
Mountain View, CA
GIT invites a variety of managers / recruiters to share resume best practices and knowledge around how to make yourself an attractive professional in today’s competitive market. Get the inside scoop on what they look for when reviewing a resume and think about when hiring a candidate. During the evening, participants will be breaking out into intimate groups to do peer resume reviews while Hiring Professionals provide valuable insight and feedback. Info at http://gitsvresumeworkshop.eventbrite.com/

Startup Weekend
Nov 20th – 22nd
Hacker Dojo
Join us for 10 Startup Weekend events going on for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) this November! Last year they had over 25,000 events, 3 million participants, and over 1 billion media impressions. Startup Weekend is one of the “Featured” events this year! Meet dozens of entrepreneurs and developers, trade ideas, start a new project, and get motivated by this amazing room of intelligent and inspiring individuals! More info at http://bayarea.startupweekend. org/

Best SF Tech Events 11/9 – 11/13

webwallflower — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:37:40 +0000

Just to clarify – these Monday lists are the events I will be going to – or would be if I were free. I am guessing that they are the events that will have the best networking, food and drink, and/or fun at them. I will generally put only 1-2 events each day, since this is a “best of” list, and I want to keep it reasonable.

Monday 11/9

Lunch with Bing 2.0
12:00n – 2:00p
475 Brannan Street
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/4839835/CA/San-Francisco/Lunch-20-with-Bing/

Tuesday 11/10

Wednesday 11/11

NFT 2010 iPhone Launch Party
6:00p – 9:00p
Double Dutch, 3192 16th St
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183074391840&index=1

Thursday 11/12

Jippidy Happy Hour
5:00p – 8:00p
Sloane 1525 Mission St.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171959440215&index=1

Alphabar: U is for Uptown
8:00p – 12:00m
200 Capp Street
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203120341275&index=1

Friday 11/13

Berkeley CleanTech Conference: SmartGrid
12:00n – 7:00p
SRI Audiotorium, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, CA
http://cleantech.stanford.edu

DogPatch Happy Hour
5:00p – 8:00p
Pier 38
(This sounds awesome, but I heard it through the grapevine, so do not have a URL)

Saturday 11/14
(I dont usually include the weekends, but I <3 the sound of this event!)

NextGen Conference
9:00a – 5:00p
Stanford University
http://www.nextgenconf.com/

Thanks to Myles – info on my Events List

webwallflower — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:00:11 +0000

So rumor has it that Myles sent out a note about the bi-weekly event mailing list I provide to startups, founders, and investors in the Bay Area. If you are visiting this blog from that email, interested in joining the list, shoot me an email and I can sign you up (cassiph[at]gmail[dot]com). Or head over to http://snapsummit.com and sign-up on the side bar.

Thanks!

Tech Events for 11/2 – 11/6

webwallflower — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:35:45 +0000

Sorry for the hiatus there guys – was sucked into FailCon last week. I had a lot of personal pride, time, and money invested in that event, and I think it went pretty well. You can see press and feedback from it on http://snapsummit.com/press.

But now I’m back in the game! Here are the events I hope to hit up this week:

Monday

There isn’t a whole lot that leaps out at me today. Christine Comaford is doing a conference call at 6pm on the 3 most common mistakes entrepreneurs, and there is a con on Enterprise Communications at Moscone Center. But neither is quite my scene.

Tuesday (Election day! Vote!)

Kiva Turns 4!
6:30 – 9:30pm
The Hub (2150 Allston Way)
http://kivaatthehub.eventbrite.com/

Wednesday

Nothing really jumped out at me for Wednesday night; I’ll probably play catch-up at work. Do you know of anything?

Thursday

ChicMeetsGeek
6:30 – 9:30pm
Automattic Lounge, Pier 38
http://chicmeetsgeek.eventbrite.com

Friday

Well mainly, the Droid launches. I’ll be keeping an eye on the reviews, as I am thinking of setting up a new cell phone plan and getting a new phone. Once iPhone opens it service to other providers, it would be my first choice, but the Palm Pixi and the Droid are being observed..by Moi.
—————

Man, a slow week in the tech event world. Please let me know if I missed something, or you think I need to be somewhere I’m not.

November Bay Area Tech Events

webwallflower — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:25:58 +0000

FEATURED EVENTS & DISCOUNTS:

25% off – SNAP Summit: FailCon! Tuesday, October 27th
Kabuki Hotel, SF
FailCon is the first of it’s kind, and will be one of the most relevent events ever designed for entrepreneurs and startups! We’re bringing major founders and investors in the online world to talk about mistakes they’ve made, failures they’ve experienced, what they learned, and how they recovered. Topics include founding team communication, design mishaps, investment mistakes, how not to build a viral app, and many more! These are talks aimed to leave you inspired and excited to be entrepreneurs today, and get you prepared for what lies ahead. More information is at http://snapsummit.com and 25% off tickets can be had at: http://snapsummit4.eventbrite.com/?discount=RFoP25

15% off – Virtual Goods Summit 2009
Oct 29th – 30th, 2009
The market opportunity for virtual goods continues to expand as developers and publishers get a deeper understanding of how virtual goods work and how best to maximize the business opportunity around them. The 2009 edition of the virtual goods summit will bring together thought leaders in this space to talk about what’s changed, what’s working, and the key challenges facing the industry. Register at http://vgsummit2009-failcon.eventbrite.com and use the code FAILCON for a 15% discount on General Admission tickets.

50% off – Innovate09
Nov 3rd – 4th, All Day
PayPals Innovate 09 PayPal’s Developer Conference matches the launch of a new Payment Platform. Come prepared for dozens of tutorials and sessions on the new APIs to build real monetization and innovative business in all app ecosystem. The code “SNAPSUMMIT” will give you 50% off the full price of $299. Details at http://paypal.com/innovate2009

The Learning Annex Make Money Expo
November 7th
Moscone Convention Center
All your financial questions will be answered in one day. Where should you invest your money? What do you need to know to start a business? How do you earn more money?
On November 7th, join over 37 money-making experts will teach you how to make 2010 the year that will change your life. See financial expert Suze Orman, Shark Tank’s “Mr. Infomercial King” Kevin Harrington, Rich Dad, Poor Dad co-author Sharon Lechter, PBS tax expert Ed Slott and Beat Wall Street with Harry Dent along with dozens of other business and wealth experts under one roof at The Learning Annex Make Money Expo – all for only $14.95! Register now at http://www.LearningAnnex.com or call: 1 800 617 0355 with coupon code “SFBETA”

200 Euro Discount – LeWeb
Dec 9th – 10th Paris, France
Join 1800 participants from 30 countries at this, the #1 European internet event. LeWeb brings together the best and the brightest people of the web industry from attendees to speakers. For more information and to get your discount ticket, visit http://www.amiando.com/leweb. html?discountCode=Leweb09

SAN FRANCISCO EVENTS

25% off – SNAP Summit: FailCon!
Tuesday October 27th
Hotel Kabuki, SF
FailCon is the first of it’s kind, and will be one of the most relevent events ever designed for entrepreneurs and startups! We’re bringing major founders and investors in the online world to talk about mistakes they’ve made, failures they’ve experienced, what they learned, and how they recovered. Topics include founding team communication, design mishaps, investment mistakes, how not to build a viral app, and many more! These are talks aimed to leave you inspired and excited to be entrepreneurs today, and get you prepared for what lies ahead. More information is at http://snapsummit.com and 25% off tickets can be had at: http://snapsummit4.eventbrite.com/?discount=RFoP25

Digital Media Conference West
Oct. 28th
Hotel Kabuki, SF
DMC West is a packed day of in-depth discussions and networking focused on the top business issues impacting digital media companies, including online video, social media, investments, online advertising, mobile entertainment, mobile apps, the future of news media and the relationship between Hollywood and Silicon Valley. The 2009 event includes two tracks, keynotes, panels, breakfast, networking breaks, lunch and reception. This is a “must-attend” event for individuals and companies working at the intersection of content, technology and commerce. Keynote Speakers include Digg CEO and Co-Founder Jay Adelson, Jason Davis, Vice President of the Disney.com Network, Bryan Perez, Senior Vice President and General Manager, NBA Digital and The Funded.com’s Adeo Ressi. Companies represented include YouTube, Google, CBS Interactive, Kyte, Best Buy Capital, Funny or Die, MTV and many more.

Full of Win Book Launch
Oct. 28th 6:30 – 9:30pm
Citizen Space
Come to the Full of Win happy hour to celebrate teh launch of 3 books from the Cheezburger Network based on Icanhascheezburger.com, Graphjam.com, and Failblog.org. Books and Happycat toys available on site and Ben Huh, CEO of the Cheezburger Network will be there in person to LoL with you. We’ve also teamed up with the SFSPCA. Guests who bring cans of catfood, cat toys, blankets or make a donation on site will be entered into a raffle to win a perty new Ipod Nano! Info at their FB Page!
15% off – Virtual Goods Summit 2009
Oct 29th – 30th, All Day
The market opportunity for virtual goods continues to expand as developers and publishers get a deeper understanding of how virtual goods work and how best to maximize the business opportunity around them. The 2009 edition of the virtual goods summit will bring together thought leaders in this space to talk about what’s changed, what’s working, and the key challenges facing the industry.
Register at http://vgsummit2009-failcon. eventbrite.com and use the code FAILCON for a 15% discount on General Admission tickets.

Lean Startups – Do They Really Work?
Oct 29th, 6:00 – 8:30pm
Cooley Offices
Venture backed high-tech startups are notoriously difficult to manage. Product development comes in over budget and behind schedule, draining cash reserves and squandering revenue opportunities. Many fail outright. Often times, when customers finally get their hands on the first release, it is difficult to use and full of bugs. Worst of all, the product may work as specified, but there are simply no customers willing to pay to use it. So, as a startup founder, what can you do to avoid these pitfalls? Well, the theory goes that lean startups can attain significantly lower development costs, quicker time to market, better quality products in a shorter time, AND deliver solutions customers want, far more effectively than their heavily financed competitors. Whether in fact they deliver on the promise, including providing dramatically higher returns for investors, is not a clear cut case. So come and hear this lively debate, to understand if the Lean Startup route is for you!

Zendesk Office Warming Party
Oct 29th, 5:00 – 8:30pm
The Zendesk team has recently relocated to San Francisco and we’d love to meet you and have you visit our new global headquarters when we open them to the public for our office warming party. Please take a moment to register at EventBrite so we can get an accurate estimate for food and drinks – thank you! http://zendeskofficewarming.eventbrite.com/

SF New Media Drinkup
Oct. 29th, 6:00 – 9:30pm
Otis
We are a group of marketing, advertising and entertainment professionals in San Francisco that meet monthly for casual mingling. If you are a brand marketer or work at an ad agency, interactive agency or media company (online or offline) then this is your chance to come and hang out with your peers in a laid-back environment. Info on their facebook page.

Alphabar: T is for Tonic
Oct. 29th, 8:00p – 12:00m
Tonic Bar
A fun gathering of folk that meets every few weeks. This time, you can bring a costume! YAY!

50% off – Innovate09
Nov 3rd – 4th, All Day
PayPals Innovate 09 PayPal’s Developer Conference matches the launch of a new Payment Platform. Come prepared for dozens of tutorials and sessions on the new APIs to build real monetization and innovative business in all app ecosystem. The code “SNAPSUMMIT” will give you 50% off the full price of $299. Details at http://paypal.com/innovate2009

Chic Meets Geek
Nov 5th, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Automattic Lounge
Join your BRAVO! friends for a Fall Celebration at the ultra-chic geek Automattic Lounge at Pier 38 in San Francisco. Enjoy beautiful views of the Bay, hosted cocktails, appetizers, and a unique opportunity to mix and mingle with the movers and shakers from both the chic and geek crowds of San Francisco Opera and Silicon Valley tech. Check out their AMAZING list of VIP guests at http://chicmeetsgeek.eventbrite.com/

Entrepreneur Funding Boot-Camp
Nov 6th, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Learn the ins and outs of the funding process from investors and experts who have successfully helped their clients navigate the funding process. Learn how to develop a compelling strategy and plan, structure a deal, effectively present, prepare for due dilligence, and create an attractive exit strategy. For more information, check out http://fundingbootcampnov.eventbrite.com/

The Learning Annex Make Money Expo
Saturday, November 7th
Moscone Convention Center
All your financial questions will be answered in one day. Where should you invest your money? What do you need to know to start a business? How do you earn more money?
On November 7th, join over 37 money-making experts will teach you how to make 2010 the year that will change your life. See financial expert Suze Orman, Shark Tank’s “Mr. Infomercial King” Kevin Harrington, Rich Dad, Poor Dad co-author Sharon Lechter, PBS tax expert Ed Slott and Beat Wall Street with Harry Dent along with dozens of other business and wealth experts under one roof at The Learning Annex Make Money Expo – all for only $14.95! Register now at http://www.LearningAnnex.com or call: 1 800 617 0355 with coupon code “SFBETA”

GiveWork Charity Gala
Nov 12th, 7:30pm
Samasource will host the first annual GiveWork Charity Gala at the University Club of San Francisco, bringing together writers, luminaries, and some of the most influential female entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. The event will feature a live auction, with items for bid including a conversation with Nobel Prize laureates George Akerlof and Myron Scholes, a productivity make-over with “The 4-Hour Workweek” author Tim Ferriss, and a date with Bollywood actress Vida Samadzai (Miss Afghanistan 2003). Information at www.samasource.org/gala

TEDxSF: Creating
Nov. 14th Cal Academy of Science
TEDxSF seeks to develop and leverage the TED experience at a regional level, bringing together innovators and inspirational speakers in the San Francisco Bay Area. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. Apply for the group at http://www.tedxsf.org/index.html
The Academy Awards of Cleantech
Nov 17th, All Day
“The Academy Awards of Cleantech” are coming and you DON’T want to miss them! Join us for a showcase of the boldest cleantech ideas. Watch presentations by the most ambitious entrepreneurs. Speak with the brightest, most engaged investors, venture capitalists and prospective technology customers. Hear from the biggest names in clean technology as they discuss the future of green energy. This event sells out every year, so sign up soon: http://www.cleantechopen.com/ app.cgi/events/view/84

BAY AREA EVENTS

David Weekly’s Birthday Party!
Oct 26th, 9:00pm – 12:00m
Daly City, CA
Dont you wish you were cool enough to get a birthday party like this? We’ve closed out Classic Bowling in Daly City. This is the LARGEST BOWLING ALLEY IN CALIFORNIA with SIXTY LANES. A dance floor, a complete bar, everything. And the whole thing is ours for the night!! This is going to be (as Elise would say) CRAZY MADNESS!! We can probably fit 300+ people in here comfortably, so please sign up your friends!!! Especially your hot friends! Please ideally come dressed “Mad Men” style in sweet suits and classy dresses…this is CLASSY bowling after all. RSVP on Facebook.

SV Monster Mash-Up
Oct 28th, 6:00 – 9:30pm
San Jose, CA
TechKaraoke SV and Silicon Valley Tweet-Up are joining forces for October’s event to bring you an evening of fun, networking and, if you choose, karaoke! Since this is a few days before Halloween costumes are encouraged — though not required — and we’ll do a costume contest at 8 p.m. Prizes include products from Cookies by Design, Plantronics, Seagate, and more! Info at their Facebook Page.

SIG Cleantech: Green Building Materials
Oct 29th, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Santa Clara, CA
While green building materials geared towards energy efficiency do not have the same appeal as installing solar panels, they often have a more compelling payback and are a much more efficient way of reducing energy usage and achieving our green agenda. Not surprisingly, the building materials retrofit market has grown 22% since 2004 and is expected to accelerate penetration in the approximately 70B sq. ft of office and residential space, presenting very attractive opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors. Join us for a panel discussion presenting industry authorities, investors, corporate buyers and entrepreneurs from successful private companies in the cement, glass, and lighting areas. Register here.

SDForum’s Collaboration 2.0 Conference
Oct 30th, 9:00a – 4:00p
Santa Clara, CA
Collaboration and Social media tools are opening up innovative opportunities to improve productivity and combine disparate resources around the globe by working together – creating content and building engaging communities. Online collaboration has augmented current knowledge patterns in corporate environments and improved mindshare, transparency, and added a sense of community among coworkers. Info at http://www.sdforum.org/collaboration

Kiva Turns 4!
Nov 3rd, 6:30 – 9:30pm
The Hub, Berkeley CA
Join 4 community enterprises, Kiva, Hub Bay Area, GOOD Magazine and The David Brower Center, as we celebrate the remarkable achievement of 4 years and almost 100 million dollars in loans that Kiva has realized since its creation. We’re 4! RSVP at http://kivaatthehub. eventbrite.com

NextGen Conference
Nov 14th, All Day
NextGen is a one-day conference at Stanford University in the heart of Silicon Valley. NextGen’s mission is to help you succeed, by providing lectures, panels and networking opportunities on areas that are vital in building and maintaining your business. Some of the topics will include how to pitch (what you need to present in your deck and how to be prepared) and the importance of asking for help / mentorship, with plenty more coming! Check out http://www.nextgenconf.com/

Startup Weekend
Nov 22nd – 24th
Hacker Dojo
Join us for 10 Startup Weekend events going on for Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) this November! Last year they had over 25,000 events, 3 million participants, and over 1 billion media impressions. Startup Weekend is one of the “Featured” events this year! Meet dozens of entrepreneurs and developers, trade ideas, start a new project, and get motivated by this amazing room of intelligent and inspiring individuals! More info at http://bayarea.startupweekend. org/

PlugandPlay TechCenter Events
Daily!
So PlugandPlay TechCenter has a ton of awesome events, and it would take an entire newsletter just to share them all. Skim their calendar regularly to see what they have to offer. http://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/calendar/

SVASE Series
Weekly
SVASE, the Silicon Valley Association of Startup Entrepreneurs, is the largest and fastest growing nonprofit association in Northern California dedicated exclusively to helping early stage tech entrepreneurs. They hold events regularly in the peninsula, and occasionally the city itself. There are too many to name in my brief email, but be sure to check them out for advice on investment, team development, financing, corporate leadership, and much more: http://www.svase.org/

SDforum
Weekly
Not to add another list of events to my list, but SDforum also has something every other day. Essentially “SDForum is the leading Silicon Valley not-for-profit organization providing an unbiased source of information and insight to the technology community. SDForum provides a venue for engineers, executives, researchers, technology leaders, and venture capitalists to exchange information on emerging technologies and best practices.” Info on their events at www.sdforum.com.

5 things I've learned from 50+ demos

webwallflower — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:09:47 +0000

From SFbeta to SF NewTech, MusicTech demo rooms to my own, I have seen a LOT of demos. I’ve seen demo presentations and demo stations, pitches and slide shows. And it is maybe 1 in 15 that actually makes me say “Wow, that was a good demo.”

Now I’m not a VC, or one of those experienced entrepreneurs with a half dozen companies under my belt. But I am your audience in each of those rooms; I am your average user; I am your virality; I am your first step. So, take it or leave it, here’s the 5 tips I’d pass on to you that everyone seems to get wrong.

5) Know your audience. Are you pitching to a bunch of marketers, or to developers? Are they going to be users, investors, or partners? For example, a demo for investors should show how you are getting users fast and making money. To users, it should show practicality to THEM. You wouldn’t show your comic book collection to someone hiring you to work on their car. Don’t show your metric software at a medical convention. Regardless of audience, however, one thing is ALWAYS true:

4) You’ve got 30 seconds. Go. One of the biggest problems I’ve seen in demos is the time it takes them to get to the point. I want to know, in 30 seconds, what it is and why it is important to ME! I don’t want a snazzy drum roll, and 2 minute anecdote. Not at the start, at least. If, in 30 seconds, you can convince me it’s worth listening to you, then you can tell me the ins and outs, the hows and whys. When it takes a demo company more than 30 seconds to get to the point, I generally assume even they don’t know what it is, themselves.

3) Show and Tell. If you have to sell your product to me, argue why it is good, explain it in more than a dozen words, it probably isn’t developed enough to be demoing. Take it back to alpha testing and start again. You should be able to say “Xyjizio makes measuring your brand’s social media influence in real-time easy” (only with a GOOD company name and less buzz words) and then type in a few words, click a few buttons, and I watch while the numbers roll in. I understand you may not have enough reach or users to do this yet when you demo, but find SOMETHING visual that makes me go WOW, and isn’t you trying to convince me it would, hypothetically, be cool. Because yeah, so would teleportation abilities.

2) Be Energized! I cannot believe I am writing this here, but easily half of the demos I have seen have people talking like Ben Stein, being too quiet, staring at a screen rather than me, etc. If you can’t even be excited about your product, why should I be?

1) Practice. Again, this should be common sense. But I see too many demos where people stutter, lose their place in a slide, seem unsure how to answer a question or proceed. First, stand in an empty room and demo to yourself, then ask your self questions and answer them. All out loud. Speaking out loud changes the dynamic, they way you think, and gets you better prepared. Then ask friends to listen and ask questions. Then colleagues. This will not only make you get to the point faster and more efficiently (I promise, the first few times you do this, your audience will fall asleep), but it will make your answers sound intelligent and relevant, and convince me you know your shit. This one step will pretty much make the other 4 come naturally.

AN ANECDOTE: Well if you’ve gotten this far, if I’ve won you in 30 seconds, I can now tell a helpful, relevant anecdote that illutrates these points well.

I sat in an SF NewTech this last year, listening to a bunch of site and app demos. For the first time in awhile, I saw a product I would actually use. It made my travels online easier, it organized my information. But the demo itself was dull. The presenter was too quiet and couldn’t take his eyes from his computer screen. He’d complete a bunch of tasks, but never seem to be excited about any of them. He used an example totally irrelevant to most of us there (organizing apartment search information. Why not organize job search information? Resume review information? App metric information?) and never once summed it all up for me in a nice memorable blurb. Notice in #3 that I do say you must Show AND Tell. Dont JUST illustrate, make sure you tell me exactly what problem you solve and why I need it, concisely!

That same night there was a product I thought was completely useless. It had dozens of competitors and nothing made it stand out from them. I would personally never use it, and couldn’t see even an active user needing it more than a half dozen times. What a waste of internet space. But the presenter was SO excited. He was convinced this was THE answer to THIS problem. He gave an example from his personal use of the product – and as a fellow entrepreneur, this was relevant to me – and then showed how his use generated immediate revenue for the company. His slides were colorful, his message simple and clear, his examples relevant, and he even wrapped up 30 seconds early. If the product itself has just been a LiTTLE stronger, he would’ve had ME investing.

But thus far, neither has made it. Yes, you need a good product. We all know that. But despite what I know dozens of people say, a good product alone doesn’t sell. You need the character, skills, and tools to sell it. And a good demo presentation is right at the top.